Newbies from Wisconsin

[vidal&tammy]

We're building our first teardrop(well, I am. She's just indulging me) and I have a few questions. First off, how much does an entire teardrop typically weigh? I'm trying to figure out how to brace my frame and what type of axle I should put underneath it before I even start on the body.

[Dagny]

On, Wisconsin. On, Wisconsin... (sorry, badger here in St. Louis)

I have a branded tear 5x10 Silver Shadow from Little Guy and it weighs 1100 lbs. I pull it with a minivan.

Welcome and good luck building. I was too impatient to get he show on the road.

[vidal&tammy]

Thanks for the quick response. didn't expect that. yea i was just wondering because i plan on making the skeleton out of small square tubing instead of the typical wood. i think it would be stronger and last longer. i just wasn't sure as to how strong of an axle i should get.

[Esteban]

Many people build teardrops with a Dexter #9 torsion axle. I'm using one for my, under construction, teardrop. It'll be 5'3" wide by 11' long. Larger than most. Trying to build it to be light for its size. My goal is for its empty weight to be about 1100-1200 lbs. Had Dexter "derate" the rubber inside the axle to a 1700 lbs. capacity to help make it ride better. Not sure that's really necessary though.

[Roly Nelson]

Hi V & T, welcome aboard. I'm a bit puzzled about your "brace the frame" comment, since my feeling is that the frame is simply some bits of metal down below that support the springs and where the tongue can be solidly attached. The stiffness and anti-twisting factor is provided by a well-built, solid teardrop body attached to fore-mentioned metal stuff. Any sort of metalwork in the frame that is intended to brace the frame, probably would just add unwanted weight.

Others probably would not agree with my light-weight frame ideas, but on my 2 teardrops, it has worked just fine. If I ever build another, there will simply be an angle iron down both sides, that the springs are mounted to. Now, on with your build, remember, ask questions, take pics and ignore any frame comments like those written above in this post.
Roly

[Downunder Dave]

Your are right on the money Roly, keep it simple, keep it lite and just enjoy the ride. Welcome to the best gathering of teardrop minds anywhere on the planet.

Cheers Dave

[vidal&tammy]

Yea I don't know what torsion axle I'm going to use yet. I haven't guesstimated what it'll be weighted at with all the suplies, etc. As far as bracing, I didn't really explain myself. I'm not going to add extra crossmembers or anything. Here's the deal, my fiance's father has an old four by eight harbor freight trailer that he wasn't using so he told me to use that. There's no rust on it, it's just older. We figured we'll widen it and lengthen it to be a five by ten trailer. We'll box the frame in and just add sections where need to follow the same trailer frame.We're also going to use one inch mild steel for the skeleton of the body. Her dad is showing us how to do all this. He's a genius when it comes to body work, welding, cars. In fact, he welded two cadillac limos together and put a heart shaped jacuzzi in it. It's actually sitting in the Believe it Not museum in Missouri, but I digress. We'll be using sheet metal instead of wood for the shelving and stuff as well. The subfloor and floor is the only wood we'll be using, I believe. That could change. I have some rough plans drawn up but that's all I have at this point. I want to get placemtn for WHAT I'm going to put WHERE and WHY, before we start getting final specs.
I really do appreciate the feedback though. I might try and scan some of my rough sketches later this week so I can get some feedback. thanks again.

[Miriam C.]

to the playground Vidal and Tammy. Sounds like you have a great resource and a wonderful plan. Be sure to take lots of

Hey ask your future father in law if he knows how to keep the bubble oil level..

[vidal&tammy]

Thanks for the welcome. We'll def be taking pictures once we start the build.

[vidal&tammy]

ok i have a few plans drawn but i dont know how to post them so for now I posted them on my deviantart website and here is the url if anyone is interested. i'll move it to this site once i figure it out. ive had to much to drink and have no patience at this time. just click on the image to make it a little bigger

http://feigning-control.deviantart.com/ ... -124728223

http://feigning-control.deviantart.com/ ... -124728525

[BrwBier]

I'm supprised no one from Wisconsin has greeted you yet (except Dagny and she's in St Louis). Well I'm from Sheboygan and hello. There are quite a few teardrops around the state if you want to see one in person.
Brwbier

[vidal&tammy]

yea i dont know. ihavent seen a whole lot around here except for at that Tab place. i dont really like those trailers. in any case, thanks for the welcome

[tearhead]

Yay, someone else from Wisconsin! I'm in southeast WI, where are you two?

We debated buy/build and like Dagny wanted to get going, so we purchased a teardrop. But still haven't gone! I think our first trip will be in July.

This forum is great and you will be amazed at the speed with which knowledgeable people will reply to your questions--often within hours And if you haven't discovered it already, you can click on the word "Search" up top and find out lots. And then there's sdripper2's index link, which has so much on it about building. and then there's the generic Benroy plans, which is what we would have used as our Bible, had we ended up building.

Super people in here--welcome!

[RichAFix]

Welcome aboard! You can't find better advice anywhere else.

[tearhead]

Good luck on your build! When I joined the forum, we were debating whether to build or buy and ended up deciding to purchase a Lil Traveler. We're very happy with it, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. We're going to try going up to Pine Lake Camp (United Methodist) with our church group the weekend after the 4th, so that will be our maiden voyage. I'm laid up with bunion surgery so it will be interesting trying to get ready, and also trying to camp, but I'm game.

We're in Whitewater area if you'd like to see the tear.

Anyway, this forum is the greatest. What a wonderful community of people! The moderators seem to really keep things civil and lively and I'm so grateful for it. People respond quickly and helpfully to questions.

Pat (first post was "this website is like crack" -- can't get away from it, so chose username "tearhead")